Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.) N

' W; A. SKINNE'R, v CARPET STRETGHER. No. 295,824. Patented. Mar; 25; 1884.

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UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER SKINNER, OF MIDDLETOWVN, CON N ECTIGUT.

CARPET-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,824, dated March 25, 1884.

Application filed January 9, 1884. lNo'inodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. SKINNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garpet-Stretchers; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which IO it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 1 a Figure l of the drawings is a representation of this invention, and is a vertical section. Fig. 2 is a side view of the wedge. Fig. 3 is a top view of the lower jaw-lever.

This invention has relation to devices for stretching carpets; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of a wedge having a spur andeye operating in connection with a pair of biting-jaws, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates a pair of jaw-levers, B and G, which are pivoted together at D, to form a clamp, and are provided with interior longitudinal grooves or guides, E, adapted to engagethe wedge F, which is arranged between the levers. The jaws are laterally extended, and are provided with teeth or ribs on their inner faces, to hold the carpet securely when the jaws are brought together thereon. The wedge F extends longitudinally, and beyond the rear ends of the jaw-levers, between which it works. At its rear end it is provided with an eye or ring, G, which is horizontal and at right angles with the plane of the wedge. The lower edge of the wedge is provided with a and to a small post or bearing, L, of one of the levers serves to connect the wedge and clamp, and also to draw the wedge forward,

loosening the jaws when there is no power on the wedge.

In operating this device,afold of-thecarpetis introduced between the jaws ofthe clamp, and through the eye of the wedge is passed a stakeo lever, N, having a pointed end. By striking the point of the stake-lever into the floor and pressingits upper end rearward, the wedge is forced backward, causing the rear ends of the levers to diverge, and their front ends .or jaws to bite on the carpet. At the same time the clamp is drawn lengthwise by the wedge, so that the carpetis forcibly stretched. The spur on the wedge, engaging the flooring, will hold the clamp until asecond application of the lever can be made, if further stretching is required, or until the operation of the stretching device is no longer required at this point.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A carpet-stretcher consisting of a pair of clamping jaw-levers, in combination with a wedge, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a wedge having an eye at its rear end and a floor-spur, .of a pair of j aw-levers having guides to engage the wedge, and a spring connecting said wedge to one ofthe'jaw-levers, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WlLLIAllI ALEXANDER SKlNNER. Witnesses:

OHAs. A. BAILEY, ROBERT W. BURKE. 

